Imagine that you are called by your GI department and are asked to bring in a new laboratory test that measures stool calprotectin levels. Your laboratory sends 30–40 of these tests monthly to a reference lab. Based on a literature review, your medical director and the GI department agree that the calprotectin test has significant clinical value. Should you now start performing this test in-house, in your own lab? Before answering this question, you must consider what knowledge gaps are in your understanding of this test.
A knowledge gap is simply an area in the content, problem, or process that you have no experience with or know little about. Knowledge gaps can exist when processes are complex, or workflows across several departments within the facility. Knowledge gaps may be why treatments, technologies, or tests deemed "best practice" are not the treatments, technologies, or tests currently in use.
Some of the gaps in our example may be:
- How difficult is the calprotectin assay to run (how much bench time does this manual test take)?
- How are samples collected and delivered to the lab? (Stool samples are often handled differently since they are not collected on-site by a laboratory worker.)
- How much does the assay cost to perform in-house compared to the price offered by the reference lab?
- Would the in-house assay have the same analytical quality as the assay now performed at the reference lab?
- Would the test be batched or run daily, and during what hours of the day?
- Is your lab set up to bill and charge for this new test?
- Are there controls and proficiency testing available for the test?
Investigating and gathering data and information can quickly address these knowledge gaps.
